This week, we turn our attention to the insect order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). Our featured insect is Zerene cesonia, the dogface sulphur butterfly. It is classified in the family Pieridae.  This butterfly is often found along roadsides. Adults drink nectar from plants such as alfalfa. Caterpillars on leadplant, alfalfa,...

Yet another beetle this week. We now examine the family Cerambycidae. Tetraopes tetrophthalmus is our featured insect. It is commonly called the red milkweed beetle and is often found on milkweed plants. If you know a smattering of Greek, you know both the genus and species name mean it has 4 eyes. Many longhorn beetles (family...

Continuing with our beetle theme (they are exceedingly diverse with nearly 400,000 described species), we focus on Melanactes piceus. This species was described by de Geer in 1774. That is the same year he described our previous insect of the week (yes, same publication as well). Look closely at the specimen and it looks like I coated it...

We return to the beetles this week (order Coleoptera) and focus on the goldenrod soldier beetle, Chauliognathus pensylvanicus. No, that is not a typo - the spelling of that area with 1 "n" was common when this species was described by de Geer in 1774. a specimen was sent to him from 'Pensylvanie.' Once a species has been formally named, that...

This week, we focus on the insect order Hemiptera. In this case, the "big-eyed toad bug" - Gelastocoris oculatus. This insect was described by Fabricius in 1798. It is classified in the family Gelastocoridae. It can be found in North America (reported as far north as southern Canada) and Central America. They are often difficult to find due to...

Our insect of the week for August 12, 2024 is the Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus). I htought it was time to feature another group of insects. This species is classified in the order Lepidoptera, family Saturniidae). This species was described by Pieter Cramer in 1776 (yes, the year we became a country). It is easily recognized by its large...

Our insect of the week for August 5 is not a beetle. Surprise! For the last 3 weeks, we have been discussing beetles. If you start observing animals in central Illinois, on average about 75% of those you observe will be beetles. Yes, they are that common and diverse. Another very diverse group, often overlooked unless they are bothering you, are...

Our insect of the week is Phengodes fusciceps. This beetle species is classified in the family Phengodidae (also known as glowworm beetles). Both females and larvae have bio-luminescent organs. Larvae and females are predators and typically feed on millipedes. Winged males are often attracted to lights and are thought not to feed. This species...

Continuing our theme of beetles for the second "insect of the week," I thought it appropriate to focus on the rainbow scarab (Phanaeus vindex). This species was described by MacLeay in 1819. Although it looks most exotic, it is a species native to Illinois. This species is considered a "true" dung beetle as it feeds on feces during both the...

Thought it might be interesting to post notes about a selected Illinois insect every week. For our first insect, I thought the one in our logo would be appropriate. The ivory-marked borer (Eburia quadrigeminata was described by Thomas Say in 1826). [He originally placed this species in the genus Stenocorus.] It is a beetle classified in the...